Donors Conference for Kosovo on 11 July
The European Commission will be hosting a Donors Conference for Kosovo, in Brussels, on 11 July. European Union Member States, key international donors, International Financial Institutions as well as international and UN agencies will be invited. The aim of the Conference will be to collect pledges from donors for Kosovo’s socio-economic development, to create the conditions for growth, investment and jobs for all communities in one of the poorest parts of Europe.
"Kosovo is a profoundly European matter. The EU is ready to use all instruments to help Kosovo realise its European perspective. Organising the donors' conference is an important contribution of the Commission to mobilise funding for Kosovo's socio-economic development. Bringing growth and prosperity to the poorest part of Europe will help secure stability in the Western Balkans", said Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, calling upon donors to contribute generously to Kosovo’s development.
Kosovo is facing considerable financial requirements to respond to its institution-building and pressing socio-economic development needs. The Kosovo authorities have drawn up their own programme for socio-economic development that will address key challenges like investing in the infrastructure to connect Kosovo with the rest of the region, improving the conditions for education of Kosovo’s extremely young population (where some schools to operate 3 shifts per day), developing Kosovo’s institutions to consolidate democracy and rule of law in a multi-ethnic society. Donors will be invited to contribute to this plan. Substantial resources from the EU budget will be mobilised for the occasion.
Background
Kosovo is one of the poorest parts of Europe. Its GDP per capita is estimated at €1774, its unemployment rate around 40%. With a very young population, thousands of young people enter the job market every year, placing a strain on Kosovo’s job market. Its physical infrastructures are in need of rehabilitation. A key challenge over the next 3 years will be to bring the necessary growth that can help reduce Kosovo’s unemployment rate.
The EU has a political and economic commitment to Kosovo, and in calling this Conference, the Commission is responding to the December 2007 European Council, which ‘stated the EU's readiness to assist Kosovo in the path towards sustainable stability, including by an ESDP mission and a contribution to an international civilian office as part of the international presences.’
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[*] Under the UN Security Council Resolution 1244
Published on: 2008-06-10
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